Reducing Optical Reflection Loss for Perovskite Solar Cells Via Printable Mesoporous SiO2 Antireflection Coatings

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single-junction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is being rapidly promoted towards their theoretical limit, with a certified value of 25.7%. Reducing optical loss will further contribute to PCE improvement. Here, the optical loss including reflection loss, absorption loss, and transmission loss in printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (p-MPSCs) is analyzed. A printable mesoporous SiO2 antireflection coating for improving the transmittance of the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate by reducing optical reflection at the air/glass interface is reported. With modulated porosity and thickness, the mesoporous SiO2 film constructs a graded refractive index interface and increases the transmittance of FTO glass by approximate to 2%-4% in the spectral range of 350-800 nm at normal incident angle with the highest transmittance improved from 85% to 89%. The SiO2 coating also exhibits wide-angle and broadband antireflection properties. The coatings successfully help p-MPSCs obtain about an average 3% enhancement in the short-circuit current density (J(SC)) and PCE. This work demonstrates the necessity of optical management for efficient solar cells and provides a cost-effective and scalable antireflection coating for the future realistic application of PSCs.

Automated summary

The optical loss in printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (p-MPSCs) was analyzed and an antireflection coating using mesoporous SiO2 was reported to improve transmittance. The coating successfully enhanced the short-circuit current density and power conversion efficiency of p-MPSCs.